I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
NJ Records One of Nation’s Biggest Spikes in Poverty
Census Bureau estimates show the number of New Jerseyans in poverty climbed by more than 132,000 between 2019 and 2021, with median income down.
Federal Report Finds Bad News for NJ Economy
After seven straight quarters of recovery and growth following the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, the New Jersey economy shrunk in the spring of 2022.
NJ May Start Tracking When Schools Lock Students in ‘Quiet rooms’
Critics say data collection and parent notification are only a first step and that to protect students with disabilities, a ban would be better.
Criminals in NJ Still Getting Their State Pensions — That May Soon Change
Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Gloucester, said it’s appropriate to expand the list of pension-forfeiting offenses to all first- and second-degree crimes.
NJ Moves to Fix its Error on New Child Tax Credit
The state created a new tax credit for children under age 6 as part of its new budget but accidentally delayed the first payments until 2024.
Advocates Eye NJ-wide Program to Flag Students Needing Mental Health Help
Advocates for the SBIRT program say it can help identify students needing services for mental health or substance abuse services and isn't hard to implement.
NJ Lawmakers Ready to Vote on Some Changes to Grocery Bag Ban
People who order groceries for delivery or pickup have reusable bags piling up. A bill would let future orders to come in paper bags or cardboard boxes.
Does NJ Support These Leaders? Your Turn to See if Your Views Match Poll Results
Results from the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll indicate that Gov. Phil Murphy has rebounded from a spring slump, at least among Democrats and independents.
14 Officers Indicted After Inmates Beaten at NJ Women’s Prison
The violent forced extraction at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women was one in a series of issues at the prison, now on track to be closed.
NJ Deli Worth $100M Ends in Criminal, Civil Fraud Charges
The curious case of a Gloucester County deli that the stock market valued at more than $100 million has ended, perhaps predictably, in a dozen criminal and civil charges, including fraud, against its investor owners.